An early taste of winter

Our hillwalking club outing today took us on a winding journey along a stretch of the Aberdeen and Moray boundary line. We started out with an ascent of the Buck which stands at a height of 720m and is the highest point of an area known as the Cabrach. The photo is of one of the boundary fenceposts close to the hill's summit. It was around this time that we got our only clear views of the day, at least until we descended into Glenbuchat to pick up the coach which was parked on the Strathdon road.

At 11am we paused close to the summit of Mount Midden to observe a two minute silence. With the mist close around us and snowflakes drifting gently onto the frozen, marshy ground, it seemed a sombre and fitting place to remember the great sacrifice that was made to ensure we have the freedom we enjoy today.

Today was the first day in the hills where the conditions were decidedly wintry. We had several snow showers that added to what was already lying and were in the snow from above about 550m. It doesn't seem that long ago that winter finally relinquished its grip. Now its time to polish the ice axe and crampons and look forward to some stunning winter mountain days.